METHODS: Study subjects were 79 EDP requiring dental extractions and the SD providing dental care (45 junior students, 34 senior students, 40.5% females). Patient data included sex (49.4% female), race (55.7% white (W), 38.0% Black (B), 6.3% other (O)), and clinical findings and visual analog scale (VAS) ratings of pain, anxiety and post-operative assessments of effectiveness. SD data included year in training, sex and VAS ratings of patient pain, anxiety, pretreatment confidence in achieving pain control and post-treatment effectiveness in achieving pain control during treatment. Thirty-nine of the SD were shown patient VAS ratings of pain and anxiety prior to the initiation of treatment.
RESULTS: A 2-way ANOVA (sex of student X year of training) was conducted on students' ratings of patients' pain. Results indicated a significant sex effect (F(1,75)=4.4, p=.038) suggesting that female students rated patient pain higher than males. The main effect for year of training and the interaction of training and sex were both non-significant (p >.1). Senior SD more accurately rated patient pain than junior. There were no differences in between the knowledge group outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: SD ratings of patient pain were related to EDP ratings. SD characteristics (junior vs. senior and sex) were significant contributors to EDP rating variance.